Spraying apparatus



J1me 1963 N. T. PATTERSON ETAL 3,092,

SPRAYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1962 TACK WELD D L Ew K M T INVENTORS N60 7." Paffer'son Gerald C. Franc/5 June 4, 1963 N."r. PATTERSON ETAL 3,092,323

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g H i 3 I 2 i 774 75 H /2 a4 {i 6 v4 v(73h) 78 /5/ )2 I2 /6;Y2 72 I: 7060 28 5 J" I 5II l I 9? 94 2 i! 92 94 I I; I I I El I;

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RE$ERVOR HYoRAuuC PUMP PRESSURE PRESSURE [REGULATOR 4Z H 44 "on: -OFFVALVE 34 5PRAY BAR al 32 Eli 12/3? gr; 2

INVENTORS Ned T. Paffenson June 4, 1963 N. T. PATTERSON ETAL 3,092,328

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS N150 TPATTERJO/Y BY GERALD C Fen/v0.5

AT ORNEY-5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SPRAYING APPARATUS N. T. PATTERSON ETAL June4, 1963 Filed June 25, 1962 IE. 1 B! PASS RETURN lid INVENTORS N50 T PATTER$0N y GERA 1.0 C. FRA N675 A 7770 I? N E Y5 Sucncm LESERVUIR UnitedStates Patent Ofice Patented June 4, 1963 3,092,328 SPRAYING APPARATUSThe present application is a continuation in part of our now abandonedapplication Serial No. 28,690, filed May 12, 1960.

This invention relates to spraying apparatus and more particularly tospraying apparatus adapted for the ap plication of fluid material tolarge areas such as floors, walks, highways, airport runways and fieldsboth cultit vated and uncultivated.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved sprayingapparatus of the above mentioned type.

Another object is to provide a spraying apparatus adapted to apply afiiud material to areas of various widths.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus capable of applying afluid material to one area so that the boundaries of the area are alwayssharp and well defined.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befurther understood upon reading the following description and drawingsin which FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the right side of a sprayingapparatus embodying the present invention, adjusted portions of certainparts being illustrated by dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken along the line22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the present spraying apparatus with certainpar-ts broken away.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a portion of the sprayingapparatus and a hydraulic system for supplying the apparatus with thefluid material to be sprayed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational front view of the structure shown in FIG. 7,and indicating selective adjusted positions.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a portion of the sprayingapparatus and hydraulic system for the preferred embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 6-9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view enlarged for purposes ofclarity and illustrating a preferred means of carrying the masks, and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view enlarged for purposes ofclarity and illustrating a preferred means for attaching the sprayapparatus to a tractor or other vehicle.

The spraying apparatus of the present invention is here shown anddescribed as embodied in devices for spraying stripes of paint or thelike on a highway, walk, airport runway or the like. However, it shouldbe understood that the present invention may be readily adapted for usein other types of spraying apparatus, such as that used to apply weedkiller to areas, and that the present embodiments are intended to beexemplary only.

The apparatus 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is adapted for attachment by means ofbolts 12 to a carrier, tractor, or the like (not shown) for conveyancein the direction of the arrow A near the surface to be sprayed. Thebolts 12 are fixed in an upright position to a frame 14 by nuts 15positioned above and below said frame, which frame is fabricated bywelding three transverse pipes 16, 18 and 20 inward in spaced parallelrelation to a pair of shorter, longitudinally extending parallel pipes22 and 24.

The bolts 12 extend downwardly from the frame 14 and their lower endsare fastened to collars 26, 26 that surround and are tightly clamped toa transversely extending spray pipe or header 28. A plurality ofdepending spray nozzles 30 are connected to the header 28 in evenlyspaced relation and valves 32 are placed in the header 28 betweenadjacent nozzles 30 to provide means for varying the width of the areato be sprayed.

The header 28 is provided with a supply line 34 through which it isadapted to be supplied with paint or the like from a hydraulic system 36(HG. 5 The system 36 comprises a fluid reservoir 37 arranged to supplypaint or the like to a pump 38 driven by any convenient means (notshown), after passing through a filter 40. The discharge side of thepump 38 connects with a pressure regulator 42 from which paint at thedesired pressure is supplied to the line 34 through a shut-off valve 44.The regulator 42 is provided with the usual by-pass valve 46 adapted toreturn paint to the reservoir 37 via a return line 47 when the pressurein the discharge line 48 exceeds that desired.

in order to make the boundaries of the stripes to be painted sharp anddefinite, masks 6t and 62 (FIGS. 1 through 4) are mounted parallel toeach other on the frame 14 at the opposite sides thereof. The masks 6t),62 are relatively long and narrow, each having a ground engaging surface54 (FIGS. 2 and 3) terminating in an upwardly curved cam surface 66 attheir forward end.

Each of the masks 6t 62 is supported on the transverse frame pipe 18 bymeans of identical hangers as (HG. 1), each having a transverselyextending cylindrical collar 70 at the forward and upper end. The collar70 is adapted to fit on the pipe 18 for sliding move- LIIlCIli.longitudinally thereof and has a set screw 72 whereby said hanger 68 maybe fixed on said pipe 18 in any desired position along said pipe asindicated by the dash lines in FIGS. 1 and 4. Extending rearwardly anddownwardly from the collar 76 are two parallel closely spaced invertedJ-shaped plates 74 and 76. Said plates have a square shaped spacer 78(FIG. 3) spot welded between them to strengthen said hanger as and helpmaintain said plates parallel for the reception between them of therespective masks 6t} and 62. A vertical slot 88 is formed in each maskslightly to the rear of its center, said slot being adapted to receive abolt or pin 32 that is then received by aligned holes 84 and 86 in theplates 74 and 76. Thus the hangers 68 support the masks 69 and 62,respectively, for free up and down and tilting movement within thelimits allowed by the slot St) formed in each mask.

As will be apparent from the above description and FIG. 4, the masks 60and 62 are thus arranged substantially parallel to each other andidentical means 88 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided at the fore and aft ofeach said mask to assure this parallelism and prevent side to sideWobbling of the masks 6i) and 62 as they are pushed forwardly over theground during operation. Each said means 88 (FIG. 2) comprises abifurcated pin 99 constructed to straddle the upper portion of saidmasks and having a cylindrical head 92 adapted to fit on the respectivepipes 16 and 20' for sliding movement longitudinally thereof. A setscrew 94 is provided on each head 92 whereby the pin may be fixed onsaid pipes 10 and 20 in any desired position therealong. In this manner,when the hangers 68 and 69 are adjusted laterally of the frame 14 tovary the distance between the boundary forming masks 60 and 62, the pins88 may also be adjusted to assure that the masks are kept parallel.

In order that the masks 61 and 62 may always be urged downwardly incontact with the ground during operation, eventhough it may be slightlyuneven identical means 96 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided in associationwith the wobble control means 88 for that purpose. Each said means 96comprises a pair of centrally apertured plates 98 and 100 adapted to fitloosely around the pin 91 and a spring 1112 for disposition around saidpin and between said plates. The upper plates 98 bear against the pinhead 92 while the lower plates 10% are fixed to the upper edge of therespective masks 60 and 62 at the fore or aft, as the case may be, insuch arrangement that said masks may during operation ride up and downon the pin 82 guided by said bifurcated pins 90 and be resiliently urgedinto contact with the ground by the spring 1112.

In operation, the sprayer 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is attached to a carrier,tractor or the like (not shown) for transportation over the area to beSprayed in the direction of the arrow A with the masks 60 and 62 incontact with the surface to be sprayed. Prior to commencing spraying,the masks 6i) and 62 are adjusted laterally on the frame 14 so that theydefine the width of the area or stripe to be painted. Such adjustmentcan be accomplished by loosening the set screws 72 and 94, sliding thecollars 70 and 92 on their respective supporting pipes until said masksare in the desired position and then tightening said set screws.Exemplary adjusted positions of said masks are shown in dashed lines at60' and 60" in FIGS. 1 and 4 where they are arranged to define theboundaries of a narrower area than would be the case With said masksarranged as shown in full lines.

Also prior to commencement of the painting operation, the valves 32 arepositioned either on or off, de-

pending upon the desired width of the area to be sprayed.

If a wide area is to be painted, all of the valves are placed in openposition and the masks 60 and 62 are positioned 'near the positionsshown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Whereas, if narrower areas or stripes are to be painted, the masks areplaced close to each other and the outer or inner pair of valves 32 isclosed to adjust the width of the area to be sprayed. Naturally, thearea painted will be wider where just the outer pair of valves 32 isclosed than when the inner pair of said valves is closed. It will beapparent that to achieve the desired well defined latteral boundariesfor the area being sprayed, the masks 60 and 62 must always be arrangedoutboard of the outermost nozzle 30 being supplied with paint.

Immediately prior to beginning the painting operation, the reservoir 37(FIG. is filled with paint and the pump 38 placed in operation,whereupon paint under pressure is supplied'via the line 48 to thepressure regulator 42 and thence to the shut off valve 44 which shouldbe placed in closed position until the operator is ready to beginpainting. The bypass valve 46 will relieve the pressure in the dischargeline 48 when it becomes excessive by opening and returning paint to thereservoir 37 via the line 47.

After. the above mentioned steps have been taken, the

. painting operation can begin and with the sprayer being movedforwardly in the direction of the arrow A over the area to be sprayed,the shut-off valve 44 is opened and painting is begun. The nozzles 30will then distribute an'even coating of paint to the area between themasks and as the sprayer moves forward, a uniform stripe will be paintedon the surface sprayed.

During the operation, the masks 60 and 62 being spring urged downwardly,will at all times bear against the surface being sprayed and willprevent the sprayed paint from contacting any areas outboard from saidmasks, and will sharply form the lateral boundaries of the area orstripe being painted. As the sprayer 10 moves forwardly,

the cam surfaces 66, 66 of said masks will cause the masks to smoothlyadjust up or down to irregularities in the surface being painted. Suchadjustment is permitted by the vertical slot and each mask 60 and 62 andthe length of the slot in the bifurcated pins in FIG. 2. Said pins 91)also prevent said masks from wobbling from side to side, therebymaintaining them parallel at all times and assuring a sharp, straightlateral edge on the painted area.

When it is desired to interrupt the spraying operation so as to paint adashed stripe, it is merely necessary to temporarily close the valve 44while continuing the forward movement of the sprayer and then toopensaid valve again after said sprayer has progressed sufficiently to leavean unpainted area. To shut down operation of the sprayer completely, itis only necessary to close the valve 44 and then stop the pump 38.

FIGS. 6-12 illustrate another preferred spray apparatus .114? of thepresent invention as comprising a channel member 111 adapted to besecured to the underside of a tractor 112 or other vehicle by any meanssuch as bolts 113 as illustrated in FIG. 12. A pair of transverselyspaced perforations 114 (FIG. 8) are provided at' points spaced from theends of the channel member 111. Similarly spaced perforations 115 areprovided in the channel member 111 at a predetermined point spaced fromand intermediate the pairs of perforations 114. Intermediate theperforations 114 a pair of longitudinally spaced threaded openings .117are provided. The openings 117 each carry a threaded rod 118 which inturn carry a header channel member 1 19. The headerchan: nel member119may be vertically adjusted with respect to the channel member 111 byrotating the rods 118 which are provided with handles 120 for thispurpose.

A pair of substantially similar mask structures 121 are adapted to becarried in the perforations 114 by bolts 122 and comprise a plate 123supporting a pair of downwardly sloping arm members 124. As can best beseen in FIG. 11, a mask member is carried in a substantially verticalposition at the free ends of the arms 124. To permit the mask members125 to be adjusted relative to the surface, they are being moved alongand to provide a means of urging the mask members. 125 to engage thissurface even though it maybe somewhat uneven, the arms 124 are weldedor'otherwise secured to a plate 126. The mask members 125 are providedwith a pair of spaced vertically elongated slots 127 and the plates 126have a bent portion 128 extending into the slots 127. The bent portion123 provides an upper seat for a spring 129 carried in the slot andbearing on the flange 127A. Bolts 130 hold the plate 126 on the maskmember 125, but are permitted to slide in the slots 127.

The header channel member 119 carries spray pipe 131 which in turncarries a plurality of longitudinally spaced spray nozzles 132. Valves133 are carried in the spray pipe 131 intermediate the nozzles 132.' Thespray'pipe is connected to a hydraulic system 134 as can best be seen inFIG. 10.

The hydraulic system 134 comprises a fiuid reservoir 135 arranged tosupply paint or the like to a pump 136 after passing through a filter137. The outlet of the pump 136 is connected to a pressure regulator 138from which the paint is supplied to the pipe 131 through a shut offvalve 139. The usual bypass valve 140 and return line 141 are providedto return paint to the reservoir 135 when the pressure in the systemexceeds that desired. A tank 142 is connected downstream of the valve139 by line 143. A shut off valve 144 is disposed in the line 143 and isganged to the valve 139 so that when one is opened, the other is closed.This arrangement eliminates pressure being trapped in the spray bar 131.When the valve 139 is closed, the valve 144 opens, allowing the residualdownstream pressure to bypass into the tank 142 rather than to beexpended out the nozzles.

As can best be seen in FIG. 9, the arrangement of the perforations 114and 115 and the slope of the arms 124 provide a means of adjusting themasks 125 to define a variety of desired and generally standard widthsof the surface to be coated. In the particular spray apparatus 110 beingdescribed W is equal to six inches although it is apparent that theapparatus may be constructed in which W has different values. When themask structures 121 are carried in the positions indicated by the solidline positions of FIG. 9 a spraying width of 6W or 36 inches is defined.Other spraying widths may be provided by moving one of the maskstructures 121 to the perforations 115 and also by rotating one or bothof the mask structures 121 so that the arm members 124 slope inwardly asshown by the dotted line positions of FIG. 9. In this manner, it ispossible to define spraying widths for all multiples of W from one tosix. The valves 133 may then be regulated so that only the nozzles 132which are disposed intermediate the mask structures 121 are open tospray.

\Vhile We have described but two preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, it will be obvious that various changes, adaptations, andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A moving spray apparatus comprising (a) a supporting frame extendinglaterally with respect to the direction of movement of said frame,

(b) a spray bar carried by said frame and adapted for connection to asource of spray material under pressure,

(0) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried in said spraybar for discharging spray material downwardly,

(d) a plurality of valve means each carried in said spray barintermediate a pair of said laterally spaced spray nozzles forindependently regulating distribution to said nozzles, and

(e) a pair of vertically disposed ground engaging masks carried by saidframe to define the lateral boundaries of the area being sprayed, and

(1) means for individually laterally adjusting said ground engagingmasks to vary the Width of the area being sprayed, and

(g) means independently respectively and resiliently urging the forwardand rear ends of said masks downwardly.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including means selectivelyvertically adjusting said spray bar.

3. A moving spray apparatus comprising (a) a supporting frame having aplurality of spaced parallel bars extending laterally with respect tothe direction of movement of said apparatus,

(12) a pair of ground engaging masks laterally adjustably carried bysaid bars comprising vertical plates disposed in planes normal to theaxes of said bars for defining the width of the area being sprayed,

(c) spray discharging means carried by said frame and comprising a spraybar vertically adjustably carried by said frame,

(d) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried by said spraybar in a position to discharge spray material downwardly,

(e) a plurality of individually selectively operable valves each beingcarried in said spray bar intermediate a pair of said nozzles, and

(3) said nozzles being disposed such that at least one is intermediatesaid masks at each laterally adjusted position of said masks, and

(g) means independently respectively and resiliently urging the forwardand rear ends of said masks downwardly.

4. A moving spray apparatus comprising (a) a supporting frame extendinglaterally with respect to the direction of movement of said frame,

(b) a spray bar carried by said frame and adapted for connection to asource of spray material under pressure,

(c) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried in said spraybar for discharging spray material downw-ardly,

(d) a plurality of valve means each carried in said spray barintermediate said laterally spaced spray nozzles for independentlyregulating distribution to said nozzles, and

(e) a pair of vertically disposed ground engaging masks carried by saidframe to define the lateral boundaries of the area being sprayed,

(1) means for individually laterally adjusting said ground engagingmasks to vary the width of the area being sprayed,

(g) said frame comprising a channel member extending laterally withrespect to the direction of movement of said apparatus,

(h) said mask adjusting means comprising a plurality of laterally spacedperforations provided in said channeled member,

(i) a pair of downwardly sloped arms removably carried in each of a pairof said laterally spaced perforations,

(j) said masks being carried on the free ends of said pairs of arms,

(k) said perforations being positioned in three laterally spaced pointson said channel member, and

(1) means removably carrying said arms in either an outwardly sloped oran inwardly sloped position in said perforations.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and in which one of saidperforations is spaced at a distance less than half way between theother two of said perforations.

6. A moving spray apparatus comprising,

(a) a supporting frame extending laterally with respect to the directionof movement of said frame,

([1) a spray bar carried by said frame and adapted for connection to asource of spray material under pressure,

(0) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried in said spraybar for discharging spray material downwardly,

(d) a plurality of valve means each carried in said spray barintermediate a pair of said laterally spaced spray nozzles forindependently regulating distribution to said nozzles,

(e) a pair of vertically disposed ground engaging masks carried by saidframe to define the lateral boundaries of the area being sprayed,

(1) means independently respectively and resiliently urging the forwardand rear ends of said masks downwardly,

(g) said frame comprising a plurality of spaced parallel bars extendinglaterally with respect to the direction of movement of said apparatus,

(h) means for individually laterally adjusting said ground engagingmasks to vary the width of the area being sprayed, said meanscomprising,

a vertically elongated slot provided in said masks,

a hanger member bolted to each of said masks through said slots,

said hanger member being laterally slidably carried on one of said bars,and

a screw carried in said hanger member and being selectively operableupon rotation thereof to lock said hanger member in position on saidbar.

7. A moving spray apparatus comprising,

(a) a supporting frame extending laterally with respect to the directionof movement of said frame,

(b) a spray bar carried by said frame and adapted for connection to asource of spray material under pressure,

(0) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried in said spraybar for discharging spray material downwardly,

(d) a plurality of valve means each carried in said spray barintermediate a pair of said laterally spaced spray nozzles forindependently regulating distribution to said nozzles,

(e) a pair of vertically disposed ground engaging masks carried by saidframe to define the lateral boundaries of the area being sprayed,

(1) means independently respectively andtresiliently urging the forwardand rear ends of said 'rnasles downwardly,

(g) said frame comprising a channel member extending laterally withrespect to the direction of movement of said apparatus,

(h) means for individually laterally adjusting said ground engagingmasks to vary the width of the area being sprayed, said meanscomprising,

a plurality of laterally spaced perforations provided in said channelmember,

a pair'of downwardly angularly sloped arms removably carried in each ofa pair of said laterally spaced perforations, and said masks beingcarried on the free ends of said pains of arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSLindsay Nov. 17, 1925 Serapin' Apr. 7, 1931 Nakaoka Jan. 24, 1939Blumberg Apr. 4, 1944 Lewis June 4, 1946 Anderson et -al Dec. 13, 1960Macrae et al Aug. 21, 1962

1. A MOVING SPRAY APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) A SUPPORTING FRAME EXTENDINGLATERALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME, (B) ASPRAY BAR CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCEOF SPRAY MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE, (C) A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACEDSPRAY NOZZLES CARRIED IN SAID SPRAY BAR FOR DISCHARGING SPRAY MATERIALDOWNWARDLY, (D) A PLURALITY OF VALVE MEANS EACH CARRIED IN SAID SPRAYBAR INTERMEDIATE A PAIR OF SAID LATERALLY SPACED SPRAY NOZZLES FORINDEPENDENTLY REGULATING DISTRIBUTION TO SAID NOZZLES, AND (E) A PAIR OFVERTICALLY DISPOSED GROUND ENGAGING MASKS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME TODEFINE THE LATERAL BOUNDARIES OF THE AREA BEING SPRAYED, AND